2 years ago
Lionel Messi scored but Paris Saint-Germain was made to work hard for a 2-1 victory over Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday in the first match of their Japanese pre-season tour.
Star Forwards Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all began for PSG in front of the 65,000 crowd at the Tokyo National Stadium.
Messi opened the score in the 32nd minute, but the PSG line-up which was very changing in the second half could only manage one more goal through the replacement of Arnaud KaliMiendo.
J-League champion Kawasaki pulled a goal back in the 84th minute when Kazuya Yamamura came home without a sign.
The new PSG manager Christophe Galtier, who has arrived from Nice, is happy with training against the team in their domestic season.
"There are several good phases of games and some good combinations in attacks," he said.
"I like the way we can put them under high pressure on the field, which causes some dangerous opportunities."
Mbappe was rejected several times by goalkeeper Jung Sung-lyong in the first round after combining well with Messi.
The Argentine player has a shot that is cleaned of the line but gives PSG the advantage immediately after when he guides the shot to the corner right in the box.
Kawasaki gave many problems in the European heavyweight and Galtier said his defense had to be formed before the new season.
"We give too many opportunities in front of our destination," he said.
"This is where we have the most job to do. We must maintain the right balance and adjust faster to this transition situation."
PSG will play two more J-League teams, facing Urawa Reds in Saitama on Saturday and Gamba Osaka in Osaka on the following Monday.
The game against Kawasaki is played in humidity that clamps energy, and PSG midfielder Vitinha said that the heat takes casualties.
"We are not used to the weather - difficult because it is very hot and we feel it on the field," said Portuguese, who arrived this summer from Porto.
"This is physically difficult, but this is not a reason. We will be better prepared and ready for the game to come."
Neymar and Mbappe departed in the first half and Messi came out immediately after Galtier sounded changes.
Replacement KaliMiendo doubled PSG's advantage when he returned to the low cross Juan Bernat in the 58th minute, before Yamamura pulled one back with six minutes to play.
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